Demand recorder



Ja n. 5 1926.

H. E. WARREN DEMAND RECORDER Filed March 21 1924 Inventor Henry EWarren,

H is Att orn ey Patented den. 5, 1926.

rsa ries 1.568.704 serene Erica.

HENRY E. WARREN, 0F A$HLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNGR 1T0 GENERAL ELEQFTRIC COMPANY, .Ei GUEPURATION 01* NEW YOREF DEMAND ERECQRDER.

a lies-nan filed March of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Demand Recorders, of which the following is aspecification.

invention relates to graphic demand recorders and the object of myinvent on 1s to provide a simple inexpensive, yet highly reliableapparatus of this class.

In my application, Serial No. 700,947, entitled Demand recorder, filedconcurrently herewith and assigned to the same assignee as thepresentapplicatwml have described a demand recorder wherein a recordingdevice is arranged tobe dI'lVBII in a contiliuouspath adjacent to andtransversely to a moving record sheet at a speed i flat as represented.Adjacentthereto and proportionalto the demand to be recorded and wherein.the' recording device as provided with ,fixed styli or other markingmeans which are thuscaused to move across the record sheet and normallyout of contact therewith. hen a stylus is in a-predetermined positionwith respect to the record sheet and moving toward it a timing intervalis started and at the endof the interval the stylus and record .sheetare brought into contact to establish a record,

- which is a measure of the distance moved by the styli duringtheinterval. As soon as another stylus comes into the starting positionanother timing interval is started and in this way a record. of thedemand at very frequent. intervals is obtained.

The invention of the present application makes use of the continuouslymoving recording member moving transversely to a record sheet; but themarking means instead of being fixed on the moving member areestablished thereon at a fixed pointwith respect to the record sheet atthe beginning of each time interval so that a continuous demand recordis obtained. This feature enables me to deposit a marker on the movingrecording device at the same instant that the position of a previouslydeposited marker is recorded on the record sheet.

The record obtained is continuous and-the apparatus for carrying out theinvention embodies only a small number of siinple parts.

The features of my invention which 1924, Serial No. 700,948.

sented at 10 a watthour meter provided with the usual spindle 11 andregistering train represented at 12. A on shapedrecording member. 13,which is preferably in skeleton form to insure lightness and rigidity,is driven from the upper. end of the -shaft. Preferably reductiongearing 36 is reduce the 'rotative speed of provided to this cup. a

The upper rim of the cup is substantially normally out of contacttherewith is a record sheet 14 which is represented as broken "away to'better expose the parts. .The record sheet is arranged to be; passedacross a diameter of the cupand parallel thereto from? a supply roll 15over a; feeding drum 16. Just above the record' sheet, over v the cup isa platen 17 supported on the extremity of a spring member 18." Theopposite end of the spring member is secured in a support 19 hinged foradjustment and secured in fixed adjustment'by'bolts 20 in the stationaryclamp 21. Thus. by means of the bolts 20 the normal-position ofthe'platen 17 with respect-to the record sheet 14 may be adjusted. Thenormal position is such that the platen is just out of contact with therecord sheet. container 22 having a dropper 23 normally positioned justabove the rim of the cup- 13 and just outside the near edge of the rec-.ord sheet. The feeding drum is provided with .a ratchet wheel 24 whichcooperates with a pawl 25 pivoted to the spring member 18 and held incontact withthe ratchet wheel by a 1ight,spring 26. I

Means are provided for raising this The platen carries an ink platen andpermitting it to drop at pre- Ill - slightly.

ink dropper 23 very close to the rim of the cup so that the dropper willdeposit a small drop of ink on the rim. Any suitable type of clock motoror clock controlled motor may be'used for this purpose and I haverepresented a constant speed electric motor 27 in the present instance.The motor 27 may be of the self-starting synchronous type such as isdescribed in my patent, nasaoea The motor drives through a worm 28, awheel 29 having one or more axially projecting pins 30'therein. Thesepins cooperate with the end of a pivoted lever 31 so as to raise saidlever a short distance and permit it to drop as each pin clears the endof the lever. secured to the platen 18 by a rod 32. Pret eraloly the rodis adjustable with respect to the platen as by lock nuts 33 so as toobtain just the correct amount of movement of the platen tor the purposeintended. A stop pin 3% .is preferably provided to limit the downwardmovement of lever 31.

Theoperation of the device may be ex plained as follows: The directionof movement of the meter, cup 13, the wheel 29 and the record sheet 14is indicated by arrows. Let us assumethe wheel 29 makes one revolutionper hour which will cause the platen to be raised and lowered every 15minutes. Normally the platen, record sheet and revolving cup 13 areslightly separated. When the platen is raised by the motor 27 the recordsheet 14 is advanced a short. dis tance and the spring arms-18 areflexed When the lever 3 1 is released the spring member quickly movesthe platen against the record sheet and carries it down against the-cup.This position flexes the spring in the opposite direction so that theplaten is immediately returned to a normal position and therefore doesnot' interfere with the meter rotation. The adjustment should be suchthat the record sheet is caused to positively but lightly tap therevolving cup. ratchet 25 to slip over one tooth in the wheel 24 whilethe drum 16 is held from backward. rotation by the spring pressed pawl35. The ink dropper 23 deposits a small drop of ink on the rim of thecup jrist before it passes under the record sheet.

he drop of ink which was thus deposited 15 minutes before and which hasbeen carried under the record sheet a distance proportional to the thelast 15 minute interval is transferred to the underside of the recordsheet. When the spring member 18 comes back to normal position theratchet 25 rotates the drum 16 slightly and takes up any slack in therecord sheet so that it clears the cup and allows the same to revolvefreel The record sheet should be of such a quality that it will take Thelever is This movement causes the average meter speed during Laea'zei upor absorb all the ink thus deposited without any appreciable spreading.The ink used should be of such a quality that it will not dry up to anyappreciable extent during the time interval used.

The nature of the record obtained by such an instrument is representedin Fig. 2and the record sheet may be graduated and the time printedthereon if desired demand for any interval may be immediatelyascertained by inspection. Should the demand during any interval exceedthe range of the instrument such that the ink drop on the rim is carriedbeyond the record sheet during the time interval it will be indicated byits absence from the record sheet as at 37. To prevent such an ink dropfrom being carried around a second time and thus producing a falserecord, an ink absorbing brush such as shown at38 may be providedadjacent the rim of the cup to catchthe ink. This brush, if used, shouldbe positioned just out of contact with the rim or made to very lightlytouch the rim so as not to produce any appreciable friction.

It will be evident that the demand interval may be made anything desiredby changing the spacing of the pegs in wheel 29 or by changing the gearratio at 28 or by changing the speed of motor 27. It will also beevident that the relative speed of cup 13 and the meter shaft 11 may beso that the gear ratio at 36, and if desired the cup may be mounteddirectly on shaft 11 so as to rotate at the same speed as the ineteix.thelatter case thetime interval would be made very small and the recordobtained would approach that corresponding to the instantaneousvariations of the quantity measured. It will generally be preferable toprovide gearing asat36, because this connection prevents anyj 'jarincident to the recording operation from, being transmitted to the metershaft and bearings.

fication of my invention I do not wish to be limited thereto, sinceother modifications and arrangement of the parts embodying the samegeneral principles heretofore described will occur to those'skilled inthe art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is t 1'. A demand recorder comprising a member arranged to bemoved 'in' a continuous path at a speed proportional to the demand to berecorded, a record sheet, means. for moving the record sheet adjacent toand across the path of movement o't'said memher, means for establishinga reference point on said member at a definite position with respect tosaid record sheet, and means for recording the position of saidreference While I have described but a single modi- I In I point on theadjacent portion of said record"- sheet, and means for successivelyrecording on the record sheet the positions of such reference pointswith respect to the record sheet at equal intervals of time after suchpoints have been established.

" 3. A demand recorder comprising a mem ber arranged to be moved in acircular path at a "speed proportional to the demand to be recorded, arecord sheet arranged to be moved across a -diameter of said circularpath and adjacent to said member, said cir cular path being of a greaterdiameter than the width of said record sheet, a device for depositing amarker on said member at a definite point as it approaches the recordsheet, and means for transferring said marker to the adjacent portion ofsaid record sheet after a redetermined interval to make a record oithe'extent of movement of said member during such interval.

4. A. demand recorder comprising a member arranged tobe moved in acontinuous path at a speed proportional to the demand to be recorded, aplaten adjacent to and slightly separated from said member, a recordsheet arranged-to be passed between said platen and member in adirectiontransversely to the movement of said member, means for establishing amarker on said member at a definite position with respect to the recordsheet, and a timing devicefor periodicallycausing theplaten to press therecord sheet against the moving member and simultaneously actuating saidmarker establishing means.

5. A demand recorder comprising a record sheet, a member arranged to bemoved in a circular path in a plane adjacent to said record sheet ataspeed pro portional to the demand to be recorded, said circular pathbeing of greater diameter than the width of said record sheet, a platenon the opposite side of said record sheet from said member, an inkdropper arranged adjacent to said member at one side of said recordsheet, means for advancing said record sheet, and means for periodicallypressing said platen against said record sheet and simultaneouslycausing said ink dropper to deposit a spot of ink on said member.

6. A demand recorder comprising a record sheet, a member arranged to beso tated in a circular path in a plane adjacent to and parallel to aportion of said record sheet at a speed proportional to the demand to berecorded, aresiliently supported platen on the opposite side of saidreco'rd sheet from said member adjacent the said portion of said recordsheet, a container on said platen, a marking fluid in said container, afluid dropper extending from said container to a point adjacent saidmember at one side of said record sheet, and time controlled means forperiodically vibrating said platen away from and towards said recordsheet, and means actuated byvthe movement or said platen away from saidrecord sheet for advancing the latter. j

7. A, demand recorder comprising a record sheet, a member arranged to bedriven in one direction across the face of said record sheet and shapedso as to present a continuously cha ing substantially flat surface tosaid recor sheet, means for depositing a marker on said surface atpredetermined time intervals and at a definite position with respect tothe record sheet,

said member being driven at a speed proportional to the demand to berecorded, and means for momentarilyestablishing contact betweensaidrecord sheet and surface at predetermined time intervals, for the purpose of depositing such markers onto said record sheet.

8. A demand recording device comprising a member having a continuoussurface such as the rim of a cup, 2; record sheet arranged to beadvanced adjacent to a portion. or said surface, means for moving saidsurface in one direction transversely to said record sheet at a speedproportional to the demand to be recorded, means for depositing amarking fluid on said surface at a definite position with respect to therecord sheet and at predetermined time intervals, and means actuatedsimultaneously with said fluid de positing means for establishingcontact between said record sheet and the adjacent portion of saidsurface. J

9. ln an integrating type meter, a recording member having a circularband driven from said meter through reduction gearing, a

record sheet of less width than the diameter T??? of said band arrangedto be advanced in radial direction adjacent to one periphery of saidband, a platen for momentarily pressing said record sheet against saidband, an inking device carried by said platen, and a device forintermittently actuating said platen, said inking device being so pcsitioned that it deposits a small drop of ink on said bandas it approachesthe record sheet when said platen is actuated.

10. In an integrating type meter,

for measuring and recording the demandsof said meter over equal time iprising a recording member dri L circular path by said meter, a recordsn her and transversely to ing markers on said ranged to be movedadjacent to said mema portion of its circular path, means forperiodically depositmelnher at a definite position with respect to therecord sheet, and means fortransi'erring such marker to the adjacentportion of said record sheet at predeterminedtime intervals thereafter.

11. A. demand recorder comprising a member having a continuous surface,such as the rim of a cup, means for drivin said surface in a continuouspath at a speed proportional to the demand to be recorded, a

record sheet arranged to he moved adjacent to and transversely to oneportion of said path such that the surface continuously moves across theface of said record sheet, means for 'n'ieasurinc the length of saidsurface which passes said record sheet during each of successivepredetermined time intervals and means for successively recording saidmeasurements on said record sheet.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of March,1924.

.HENRY E. WARREN.

